Reconnecting a long before dissconnected DC
by Branko Santo on July 17th, 2008
Just today had a situation where we had some strange behaviour. Some users and OUs were not replicating. OK I go in do some diagnostics just to find out those are some two old DCs which had been brought back to life after like 4 months.
The thing is their Tombstone time expired and now they were no good (if you know what I mean). It took some time and a whole lot of searching 
Here is the TechNet article on it.
Reconnecting a Domain Controller After a Long-Term Disconnection
P.S. I passed 70-298 my finall exam for the MCSE: Security
Exam cram in the last month…
by Branko Santo on June 10th, 2008
Yeah its been exactly a month
70-293, 70-294, 70-646 are the exams I passed in that time. Very nice I must say, so I got only 70-298 (designing security) and 70-643 (TS: apps) and 70-647 (enterprise admin) to complete both my 2003 and 2008 tracks.
Whooooohoooo! That part is almost done, than I have to get to thinking about what next. I still have some extra classes to hold. It will be my first Windows Server 2003 official classes I teach but I am up to it.
Take care all
A goal away counts for two at home :)
by Branko Santo on May 10th, 2008
Todays score is 1:1!
Just came back from passing the ISCW (finally, was really worried about it), got 968/1000 so a really nice score
I failed my first chance at 70-293 (one of the 3 exams I need to finish my MCSE: Security) but will take another free shot at it in a week or two.
Its been like a month and a half on my new job.
Good things:
- Mixture of MS and Cisco duties
- My predecessors really did not know their stuff that much so I have my hands full
- Cool team
Bad things:
- Two hours lost a day on commuting (double from what I had on my last job)
- Mediocre organization
Well thats it people, hope you are having fun and making headway!
Recap on 2008 ’till now.
by Branko Santo on March 7th, 2008
Its been a drag, in two months I have 4 posts and most of them not technical. I have finally shaken the new year letargy am working hard on getting better. Certification wise I pass the Vista upgrade and Server 2008 upgrade with no real trouble (the second one with 1000/1000, my first).
ISCW is waiting, but not for long, I will get back on that horse in about two weeks, since I have my first classes as an MCT. Going to be holding a MCDST course for two weeks which will take my tall up to 12 hours of work per day and will leave very little free time for study. But as soon as I get that out of the way ISCW is going down!
Getting your Fedora running in VirtualPC
by Branko Santo on February 29th, 2008
It was a drag
Luckily these two posts made it clear (aftear a couple of hours lost) as to how to make everything right in Virtual PC
Check out the comments on them there is some wisdom there too
Me be Vista certified!
by Branko Santo on February 22nd, 2008
In a learning frenzy I just decided to upgrade my MCDST to a Vista certification, especialy when we got the notion that the upgrade will be viable both as a prerequisite for the newly formed Enterprise Administrator on Windows Server 2008 and as the MCTS:Vista + MCITP:Enterprise support. So by doing the one upgrade exam 70-621 I just got the MCTS + MCITP that I mentioned and I am going to have my second try at the 70-648 to upgrade my MCSA to Windows Server 2008 (I get two MCTSs, active directory and network infrastructure) and will than be just one step away from the Server Administrator on 2008, but that exam is still not available.
Exam was not all that hard, I had some trouble perhaps with wireless as I dont work with it every day but killed I guess with everything else since I got a really nice score.
See ya
Ok, its done! I am staying put.
by Branko Santo on February 5th, 2008
My attempt to move to the Czech Republic failed and IBM lost a possible worker, but no gripe its not their fault. They didn’t even talk to me, Manpower (the company doing employment for the) just pulled our noses.
So my situation is going to change in a big way. My Cisco responsibilities will be downgraded to about 5% of my time, and all the rest will be shifted to Microsoft. This is not a farewell just a see you next time to my Cisco certification. I guess no Cisco certs for at least 6 months.
I have an online project coming very soon and hopefully will add another paycheck to my budget. And will try to get my MCSE this year since I have to shift my work. Yes I just need the certs they help me keep focused.
Take care and have fun.
Talking ’bout nothin’
by Branko Santo on January 24th, 2008
Well I know I promised to write, but hey its been a strange month. And two things are the highlights of this still ongoing January.
1. I failed my ISCW, the first certification exam that I failed. And I took 6 Microsoft and this was my fourth Cisco exam.
739/1000 and 790 was the pass. Not that bad, but I was a bit unlucky. My weakest part of the curriculum was the connections (ADSL/Cable…) and I got really a bunch of questions on those, had only 28% from that part. So to have a decent score like this is a good achievement. After all a bit more practice and I will be down to only the ONT for my CCNP (finally) From when I started learning for my mid-tier cert its been somewhere around 9 months. I am hoping to have it all wrapped up in a couple of months and say that I did it in under a year
2. I had an interview with Manpower/IBM for the position in their GSDC (global service delivery center) and I might be moving to the Czech republic in a couple of months. Will probably get all the info next week.
So I started learning ONT and will probably take care of it first and then comeback fresh to ISCW for another flyby I know some of you are reading this and I wish you all the best.
ISCW progress
by Branko Santo on December 29th, 2007
Well I haven’t been as diligent as I have been this year but its coming along. Most problems here are in the VPN arena with which I have never worked before and it is proving to really be a hassle, but I am not giving up.
New year is coming, and I am thinking about my resolutions. Before that I have a resolution to pass the ISCW in January for starters so I will have to really push it straight after the the holidays. Anyways take care and have nice holidays
Down, down, down…
by Branko Santo on December 23rd, 2007
Thats how I’ve been feeling these past 10ish days. Got the onslaught of Christmas depression. Not even getting a wee bit drunk last night with 5 girls helped. Guess its all the decisions I have to make in the coming month or so. First I have an interview for IBM in the Czech republic, plus I have an offer of a job at home. Will have to really leverage everything. And with all that I am hoping to be done with CCNP by end of March (already more than half way through ISCW). I just feel drained of energy, this year I have really done a lot and I can’t wait for that 12 o’clock bang to get me into the new one.
I just want to wish everybody happy holidays what ever they are. For my new years celebration I have a date with Johnny [Walker] and some Cola. It has been a quiet time writing wise but I guarantee I will be back and even better after the holidays
Take care